Man gets 27 years for enslaving housekeeper

CNN ^ | August 31, 2006 | AP

[LNewman]

CENTENNIAL, Colorado (AP) -- A man convicted of sexually assaulting an Indonesian housekeeper and keeping her virtually as a slave was sentenced Thursday to 27 years to life in prison.

...

Al-Turki, a citizen of Saudi Arabia who lived in the Denver suburb of Aurora, was convicted June 30 of unlawful sexual contact by use of force, theft and extortion ...

Prosecutors and FBI agents said Al-Turki and his wife, Sarah Khonaizan, brought the now 24-year-old woman to Colorado to care for their five children and to cook and clean for the family. An affidavit said she spent four years with the family, sleeping on a mattress on the basement floor and getting paid less than $2 a day.

Al-Turki said he treated the woman the same way any observant Muslim family would treat a daughter.

"Your honor, I am not here to apologize, for I cannot apologize for things I did not do and for crimes I did not commit," he told the judge. "The state has criminalized these basic Muslim behaviors. Attacking traditional Muslim behaviors was the focal point of the prosecution."

Al-Turki said he has been under investigation as a suspected terrorist since 1995 but has never been charged with the crime.

...

Al-Turki, a linguist who worked at a Denver publishing and translating company, also faces trial in federal court in October on charges of forced labor, document servitude and harboring an illegal immigrant.

...

Khonaizan pleaded guilty to a federal immigration charge and a state theft charge. She was sentenced to home detention and probation in the federal case and two months in jail in the state case. Her attorney, Forrest Lewis, has said she wants to return to Saudi Arabia and will not fight deportation.

[EveningStar]

misc ping list

[Dog]

Charming couple..

/sarcasm

[Pablo64]

Of course he's going to play the "poor persecuted Muslim culture" card.

Dirtbags are dirtbags no matter where they're from.

[Heyworth]

Her attorney, Forrest Lewis, has said she wants to return to Saudi Arabia and will not fight deportation.

Hope there's someone to pick her up at the airport, since her husband's in jail and she can't drive over there.

[Mr. Jeeves]

"Your honor, I am not here to apologize, for I cannot apologize for things I did not do and for crimes I did not commit," he told the judge. "The state has criminalized these basic Muslim behaviors."

And those who need to hear and understand this truth will not listen.

[Michael.SF.]

Al-Turki said he treated the woman the same way any observant Muslim family would treat a daughter.

Unfortunately, that is probably a true statement. He probably would have also cut off her hand if she stole something.

[KJC1]

"The state has criminalized these basic Muslim behaviors. Attacking traditional Muslim behaviors was the focal point of the prosecution."

No, you moved to the United States of America where we have laws against enslaving people, THANK GOD.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Why am I NOT surprised the perp is a Saudi? Abuse by Saudis of Indonesian domestic servants is rampant, both in their home country and in the U.S.

[camas]

this is how they think, he did nothing wrong

[LNewman]

Al-Turki said he treated the woman the same way any observant Muslim family would treat a daughter.

I'm wondering how many of the five children are daughters.

[hardworking]

a citizen of Saudi Arabia

And he was in the U.S. because ...? Send them ALL home. Nuf said.

[hardworking]

this is how they think, he did nothing wrong

Jus some lil ole cultural diversity so whas the matta?

[SteveMcKing]

this is how they think, he did nothing wrong

It's why we demand mechanical solutions, while others think they can just contemplate and scratch their stubbled chins on NPR over it.

[kinoxi]

The brainwashed wife.

Khonaizan pleaded guilty to a federal immigration charge and a state theft charge. She was sentenced to home detention and probation in the federal case and two months in jail in the state case. Her attorney, Forrest Lewis, has said she wants to return to Saudi Arabia and will not fight deportation.

[Quix]

True true!

[rocksblues]

Basic Muslim behavior?

Geez, This is America not some desert with a 7th century religion.

[pepperdog]

ping to me

[redbaiter]

Al-Turki goes to prison to get stuffed.

I got nothin'.

[joshhiggins]

he treated the woman the same way any observant Muslim family would treat a daughter

Sadly I suspect he is telling the truth.